Australian Open chief Craig Tiley is proposing a major reform package that includes extending the women’s singles to best-of-five sets from the quarterfinals onward, potentially as soon as 2027, subject to player consultation and agreement.

Tiley frames the reforms as transformative for the tournament, targeting longer, more compelling matches while keeping the event’s 20‑day schedule intact and exploring tweaks to qualifying and wildcard allocations.

The plan also prioritizes the fan experience with more space, shade, seating, and screens to accommodate rising attendance, which has approached 1.3 million in recent editions.

Tiley points to the men’s epic semifinal and the women’s strong final as evidence that longer matches boost fan engagement and theatre.

Innovations under consideration include an interactive glass court, a 270-degree immersive dome, and a performance centre hub offering medical, wellness, and screening services for players.

Tennis Australia’s settlement with the Professional Tennis Players Association signals a move toward greater collaboration among stakeholders amid broader antitrust discussions.

Infrastructure expansion at Melbourne Park is on the table, including the possible addition of another show court and the broader development of Olympic and Yarra Park precincts to handle larger crowds.

Any change would be pursued only after deep consultation with players and leadership, with the WTA’s new leadership weighing how to add more compelling content.

The 2026 Australian Open posted record attendance and branding shifts, with longer queues and delays, while organizers emphasize preserving a tennis-centric core within a larger festival-like experience.

Looking ahead to 2027, the plan envisions higher player revenue shares (targeting up to 22% of tournament revenue by 2030), plus a dedicated performance centre and a more integrated player experience.

There would be no need for grand slam committee approval to change the women’s format, but substantial player consultation is essential before any move is made.

Other proposed tweaks include redesigning umpire positions, removing pre-match warmups, eliminating lets on serves, and turning player benches into climate-controlled, data-enabled mini performance centers.